Industry groups call on the EU to adopt a framework for long-duration energy storage

A coalition of European associations has called on European Union (EU) institutions, national governments, regulators and system operators to establish a sequential framework for long-duration energy storage (LDES) in Europe.

Among the signatories of the joint statement are Association Flow Batteries Europe, Cleantech for Europe, Energy Storage Europe, EnergyTag, Eurelectric, Future Cleantech Architects, Global Renewables Alliance, Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) Council and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

In a joint statement, the signatories highlight Long-Duration Energy Storage (LDES) as a fundamental factor for energy security, system reliability, and cost-effective decarbonization in a rapidly evolving electricity system.

They note that the European energy system is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the rapid expansion of renewable electricity, the acceleration of industrial electrification, and the increasing demand for digital infrastructure. While renewable generation continues to grow, periods of low wind and solar production, grid congestion, and increasing constraints reveal structural flexibility gaps that short-term solutions alone cannot address.

Large-scale LDES technologies, which include pumped hydro, compressed air, flow batteries, thermal storage, and electricity-to-gas conversion pathways, can store energy for several hours, days, or even seasons. By converting variable renewable generation into a firm, time-shifted supply, these technologies help maintain system adequacy, reduce reliance on fossil fuel backup capacity, limit constraints, postpone grid reinforcement, and support industrial electrification.

The coalition’s joint statement urges policymakers to:

1. Integrate LDES into the planning and adequacy assessments of national and EU energy systems.
2. Ensure fair treatment that is in line with the costs of storage in electricity markets, network tariffs and taxation.
3. Align capacity mechanisms with the long-term needs of the system.
4. Enable long-term investment and contracting frameworks that support large-scale deployment.

From pv magazine Spain.